June 18, 2004
New York Day in Washington a success . . .
New York businesses and chambers need to participate and communicate
with all levels of government, New York’s two United States Senators
told 75 chamber executives and business leaders last week.
Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer spoke to participants at
a breakfast meeting that began the second day of CANYS’ fifth annual
New York Day in Washington. Both New York senators reminded participants
that businesses involvement in legislation was important.
“By working closely with New York’s chambers, I hear directly
from the businesses -- especially the small businesses -- that are the
engines of the local economy,” Senator Clinton said. “It’s
essential that government on all levels partner with the business community
so that we can promote the prosperity of our communities and our state.”
Participants at the breakfast also heard from U.S. Representative Susan
Kelly (R-NY); Kenneth Adams, CANYS chairman and president
of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Garry Douglas,
president of the Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce;
Ed Mortimer, director of congressional and public affairs for the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce; and Jim Mazzarella, director of federal affairs for
New York.
New York Day in Washington began the evening of June 8 at a reception
on Capitol Hill. More than 100 people attended the reception, including
U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Carolyn Maloney and staff representatives
of several New York congressional offices. Doug Holz-Eakin, director of
the Congressional Budget Office also attended.
The reception, organized by the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce,
featured "made-in-New York" products, including some of the
state’s finest wines.
On Wednesday afternoon, participants met with their own congressional
representatives to discuss issues facing business in their area.
The day ended with an afternoon meeting on homeland security issues hosted
by Rep. John Sweeney (R-Clifton Park). Rep. Sweeney, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY),
the chairman of the house subcommittee on homeland security appropriations,
and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), a member of the select committee on homeland
security briefly discussed issues facing homeland security.
"I was very pleased to host this event and help bring our Chambers
up to speed on the Homeland Security issues facing New York and the nation,"
said Rep. Sweeney. "I hope people came away with a better understanding
of how Washington is working to make our country safer, and why this issue
is so important to New York's business community."
Update from the Small Business Administration . . .
In planning New York Day in Washington, some chambers indicated a desire to hear from the U.S. Small Business Administration on various issues of concern. While the timeframe of the Issues Briefing prevented a speaker from the SBA from participating, the office prepared a document for our chambers and their interested members. The brochure describes SBA activities in New York State, and lists contact names and numbers for the three SBA field offices in New York. The document can be accessed here: http://www.canys.org/pdf/2004/SBA-NYS-June04.pdf
Membership Meeting in Oswego County . . .
The Chamber Alliance of New York State Summer Membership Meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22 has been postponed until early October. Scheduling difficulties prevented many chamber executives from attending on the June dates, so we are making an effort to accommodate even more than the 16 chamber staffs already looking forward to the best in leadership training, technology sharing and networking. We look forward to welcoming you to Oswego County in early October! (Specific dates to follow shortly.)
Chamber idea-sharing . . .
Steve Newvine, formerly of the Livingston County Chamber and currently heading the Greater Fresno Area Chamber, is researching best practices from several chambers, and will probably tap into some good ideas from CANYS members. In the spirit of “even” idea-sharing, Steve has provided the CANYS Connection with an article he recently wrote to assist job-seekers.
There's a lot of advice I can offer someone who is being considered for the Chamber CEO position. Attend Chamber professional development conferences and you'll gain valuable information to help you prepare. I have gained many ideas over the years from those meetings.
In preparing for the Fresno Chamber's initial phone interview, I bookmarked the local newspaper's website and began checking it daily to get a feel for the community. The phone interview led to a teleconference. My preparation for that included writing three facts sheets: one about me and why I felt I was a good candidate, one about the work I did with my current Chamber, and one with questions I wanted to ask about Fresno and California.
The in-person interview is the most crucial and was the final test. This is where you must "turn it up a notch" and sell yourself. I prepared a succinct 3-bullet point outline as to why I should be hired. It was the "speech of my life" and one that closed the deal.
I heard a lot of stories over the years about opportunities missed, business deals that fell through, or just plain mistakes. One thing that seems a constant among the many entrepreneurs I have met over the years is a sense of optimism. Search committees can sense that optimism. Go into that interview process with a sense of optimism and give the committee the feeling that you are a true leader and will guide the Chamber to success.
--- Steve Newvine, CEO, Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce
Tell us about it . . .
Al Samuels at the Rockland Business Association needs your help: The RBA and the Rockland County Legislature are working on a plan to replicate the Very Small Business program of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The program sets -- up to a certain financial level -- the universe of VSBs that get first crack at small municipal contracts. Do any other communities do this? Can anyone provide some advice? Contact Al at asamuels@rocklandbusiness.org.
Congratulations to the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, which was recently accredited with three stars through the U.S. Chamber’s accreditation program. Accredited chambers are those which have defined, reached, and maintained basic operational performance standards and who have significantly contributed to the good of their community, region, state, and country.
Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Job opening in your chamber? Great idea you’d like to share? Send it to maggie.moree@bcnys.org.
